Korean Names
The Korean name consists of "Last(Family) name + name." The family name is divided into one or two syllables and is usually shared by the same family. Names can divide generations of the same blood line, and brothers and sisters often share the same syllables. This is called 항렬Hang-lyeol.
In South Korea, the family name emerged starting from the formation of ancient nations. This began to be generalized from the middle of The Koryeo(고려) Dynasty and spread during the Joseon Dynasty, and most people started to have their surnames. In 1894, the abolition of the status system(신분제 = Like Caste systems) was declared by 갑오개혁 (three reform movements), and in 1909, the Civil Registration Act (March 4, 1909 Act on the Registration of family register) was established.
There are 333 family names in South Korea based on the National Statistical Office's standards in 2018. The most common family names in Korea are Kim, Lee, Park, Choi and Jeong.
<Preferred names by time period>
✎Woman
At the end of 1940s and the mid-1950s many women had a name ending with 자, as a remnant of the Japanese colonial era. The syllables 순Sun, 영Yeong, 정Jeong, etc. were preferred in front of 자(ja).
Ex) 순자Sun-Ja, 영자Yeong-Ja, 정순Jeong-Sun, 영숙Yeong-Suk, etc
In the late 1950s and mid-1960s, the name ending with 자(Ja) almost disappeared. The name ending with 숙Suk, 순Sun, 희Hee was the main trend, and along with the syllables preferred in the 1940s, the syllables such as 명Myeong, 경Gyeong, 현Hyeon, 옥Ok, etc were preferred.
Ex) 명숙Myeong-Suk, 경숙Gyeong-Suk, 정희Jeong-Hee, 현숙Hyeon-Suk, etc
From the end of the 1960s to the mid-1970s, there were many names with the syllable 미Mi. Previously preferred syllables were still preferred, but the use of syllables such as 순Sun, 영Yeong, etc was relatively reduced, and the syllables such as Gyeong was relatively reduced as well.
Ex) 미경Mi-Gyeong, 경희Gyeong-Hee, 미숙Mi-Suk, 미영Mi-Yeong, etc
From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, the syllable 지Ji is used a lot. Names vary a lot by this period and many names of different pronunciations are preferred.
Ex) 지은Ji-Eun, 지연Ji-Yeon, 선영Seon-Yeong, 혜진Hye-Jin, etc
'Pure' Korean names such as 아름A-reum and 보람Bo-Ram are popular in the late 1980s and mid-1990s, with many syllables like 지Ji appearing as well.
Ex) 아름A-Reum, 보람Bo-Ram, 지혜Ji-Hye, 수진, etc
From the end of the 1990s to the mid-2000s, names that are easy to pronounce and formally pretty appear. Almost every syllable of the name has no final consonant, and sometimes only one syllable with a final consonant is in its form.
Ex) 유진Yu-Jin, 민서Min-Seo, 수빈Su-Bin, 예지Ye-Ji, etc
From the end of the 2000s to the mid-2010s, ㅅ, ㅈ, ㅇ, and ㅎ consonants exist in almost every name. A common(trendy) name is an easy to pronounce and pretty name.
Ex) 서연Seo-Yeon, 윤서Yun-Seo, 하은Ha-Eun, 지우Ji-Woo, etc
Since the late 2010s, both syllables have been increasing in no final consonant names. It is believed to be because of the ease of English translation. The phenomenon of easier pronunciation and preferring pretty names continues.
Ex) 지안Ji-An, 서아Seo-A, 하린Ha-Rin, 지유Ji-Yu, etc
✎Men
From the late 1940s to the mid-1950s, syllables like 영Yeong, 정Jeong, 수Su, etc were used a lot. Especially, 영Young was the trend. There were many names that end with 식Sik.
Ex) 영수Yeong-Su, 정식Jeong-Sik, 종수Jong-Su, 정호Jeong-ho, etc
From the end of the 1950s to the mid-1960s, the syllable 성Seong begins to be used a lot. many names that end in syllables such as 식Sik and 수Su still exist.
Ex) 성수Seong-Su, 성호Seong-Ho, 영철Yeong-Cheol, 경수Gyeong-Su, etc
From the end of the 1960s to the mid-1970s, 호Ho begins to be used a lot on the last syllables. The syllables that were still in use before are preferred as well.
Ex) 영호Yeong-Ho, 진호Jin-Ho, 영진Yeong-Jin, 병철Byeong-Cheol, etc
From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, the syllable 훈Hun begins to be used a lot. ㅇ or ㄴ is mainly used for the final consonant at the first syllables. The syllables used before are still widely preferred.
Ex) 정훈Jeong-Hun, 지훈Ji-Hun, 준호Jun-Ho, 민수Min-Su, etc
Names begin to vary in the late 1980s and mid-1990s. The syllables 민Min, 현Hyeon, 준Jun, etc. are used freely, in both the front and rear syllables.
Ex) 현우Hyeon-u, 동현Dong-Hyeon, 준영Jun-Yeong, 상현Sang-Hyeon, etc
From the end of the 1990s to the mid-2000s, names that give a solid impression are preferred. It's similar to the 80s.
Ex) 민석Min-Seok, 민수Min-Su, 승현seung-Hyeon, 준혁Jun-Hyeok, etc
From the end of the 2000s to the mid-2010s, the syllable 우Woo begins to be preferred. Names that don't specifically apply to men or women are also used. (Gender neutral names)
Ex) 민준Min-Jun, 현우Hyeon-Woo, 우진Woo-Jin, 예준Ye-Jun, etc
Since the late 2010s, there have been a growing number of gender neutral names. There are also many names without a final consonant. This is also believed to be due to the ease of English translation.
Ex) 서준Seo-Jun, 도윤Do-Yun, 은우Eun-Woo, 주원Ju-Won, etc